Anybody here ever hit up Evans Creek in the NW corner of Rainier NP? I found a trail map on their website but I'm wondering if anyone here knows the trails pretty well, and know what could be done in a stock second gen double cab. Most of the videos I have seen on youtube of Evans have been of gnar, gnar, and more gnar -- mostly wheeled by highly modified rigs with solid front axles and huge amounts of lift.

Trails 520 and 519 seem like they might be doable in a stock Tacoma (they are designated as "more difficult"), but there are vids on youtube of a couple of the sections of 519 that look gnarrrrrly.

I won't take my truck there... yet. If you go in a stock rig expect damage. Been a few times riding shotgun and there are some tree's with a little extra paint on 'em, rocker panel mangling roots and stumps.

There's a lot of very cool trails at Evans Creek. On a clear day the views of Rainier are spectacular.

However, there isn't much there for a stock 2nd gen besides the main access "road" that runs through the middle of it. 519 and 520 can be very challenging even for built 1st gens because those trails are very tight and twisty.

If you are looking for something interesting, do a google search for the Naches trail. There are some sections of that trail that are doable for an unlifted Tacoma, specially if you have the elocker and aggressive tires.

The Naches trail is accessed off of Hwy 410 from FS70 which is just a few miles past Greenwater.

There's a lot of very cool trails at Evans Creek. On a clear day the views of Rainier are spectacular.

However, there isn't much there for a stock 2nd gen besides the main access "road" that runs through the middle of it. 519 and 520 can be very challenging even for built 1st gens because those trails are very tight and twisty.

If you are looking for something interesting, do a google search for the Naches trail. There are some sections of that trail that are doable for an unlifted Tacoma, specially if you have the elocker and aggressive tires.

The Naches trail is accessed off of Hwy 410 from FS70 which is just a few miles past Greenwater.

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Cool, thanks for the info. I have heard of Naches and have been meaning to check it out. Good to know that there are parts that might be doable for a stock.

Went down and checked out Naches. The lower (most difficult) section of the lower trail is closed, but we got thru the rest of the middle and upper parts of the lower trail:

This was really the only hairy part because the choke is so narrow for a second gen. There's a lot of jeep paint on that stump! p.s., the camera really flattens this out -- this is about a 45-50 percent grade (percent, not degrees):

Once you get past the choke you are pretty much committed. Actually there was another part on a rocky knoll that was sketchball for a stock rig. There's like a 16" step down a bedrock ledge/chunk at the apex of the knoll and i thought i was gonna bottom for sure. Careful line picking by my spotter got us thru it (no pix -- too busy puckering)

Random blown-out culvert obstacle on one of the side access roads.

My buddy scouted the trails first with his rig to make sure I could run it -- 1954 Jeep M36-A1 -- that little bugger goes places!

Looks like you guys had a good time. Glad to hear your Tacoma took care of you.

Did you guys stop where the trail crosses FS70 or go clear across to the east side where the trail crosses FS19? The pics look like they are all from the portions of the trail west of FS70 is why I ask.

Looks like you guys had a good time. Glad to hear your Tacoma took care of you.

Did you guys stop where the trail crosses FS70 or go clear across to the east side where the trail crosses FS19? The pics look like they are all from the portions of the trail west of FS70 is why I ask.

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We just did a short ~3 or so mile segment of the lower naches trail. We started where it says "alternate entry" on the map that Kilted linked to, and ended where it says "10.8 miles from hwy 410". I assume FS19 is way farther east somewhere?

We just did a short ~3 or so mile segment of the lower naches trail. We started where it says "alternate entry" on the map that Kilted linked to, and ended where it says "10.8 miles from hwy 410". I assume FS19 is way farther east somewhere?

p.s., the mileages on that map are WAY off.

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Thats cool. Highly recommend trying the rest of it over to the east side.. You got a small taste of this trail by doing that very beginning section. There is a lot more to it.

btw: there will be several of us that will doing the whole trail on the first Sat in Aug. At least that is the plan right now. If you are interested in joining us, you are certainly welcome.

Thats cool. Highly recommend trying the rest of it over to the east side.. You got a small taste of this trail by doing that very beginning section. There is a lot more to it.

btw: there will be several of us that will doing the whole trail on the first Sat in Aug. At least that is the plan right now. If you are interested in joining us, you are certainly welcome.

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I'd love to join you guys, if you feel pretty confident that I could get thru everything with the stock setup. I don't have sliders or any undercarriage protection, so that is my main concern -- I definitely wouldn't want to hold you guys back if there are any sections that I might struggle on. But if you think it could be done stock without too much fuss, then count me in!

First Sat in August? I might be game for that. Camping overnight or making the run in one day?

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Planning on Sat Aug.7th. We have talked about camping somewhere along the little naches river. There are a lot of places as well as organized campgrounds in that area. If we did that, we'd probably run the Ravens Roost trail in the morning before heading back.

I'd love to join you guys, if you feel pretty confident that I could get thru everything with the stock setup. I don't have sliders or any undercarriage protection, so that is my main concern -- I definitely wouldn't want to hold you guys back if there are any sections that I might struggle on. But if you think it could be done stock without too much fuss, then count me in!

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Well, I haven't run this trail in a couple of years. I've heard its a lot tamer than it used to be. Can't really know until we get there though. It also depends on how wet it is. I'll bet right now there's hardly any mud at all but that can change between now and then. It definately gets more challanging the wetter it is.

Is your rig equipped with the e-locker rear diff? What kind of tires you running?

Is your rig equipped with the e-locker rear diff? What kind of tires you running?

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Yeah, I have a locker and I'm running stock Rugged Trails. I'm not so concerned about mud/traction as I am about bottoming out on hard protrusions and scraping up my sides thru narrow chokes between rocks/trees. The two tricky parts on the lower naches section that I did (that I described in my photo post above) were pretty close to my truck's limits, so if there's a lot more of the same on the main trail it might be questionable. I'm all for trying, as long as I can get recovered by another vehicle without serious carnage!

Yeah, I have a locker and I'm running stock Rugged Trails. I'm not so concerned about mud/traction as I am about bottoming out on hard protrusions and scraping up my sides thru narrow chokes between rocks/trees. The two tricky parts on the lower naches section that I did (that I described in my photo post above) were pretty close to my truck's limits, so if there's a lot more of the same on the main trail it might be questionable. I'm all for trying, as long as I can get recovered by another vehicle without serious carnage!

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The first time I ran the Naches trail, I was pretty much stock except for tires. Had 31" bfg muds. The tires made it possible. Stock Tacomas have plenty a grond clearance if you take it slow. A lack of traction, either because of loose dirt or slippery, muddy conditions can cause the use of too much speed, getting you into trouble. Despite the name, rugged trails are not a very good off-road tire. Airing them down significantly will help in dry conditions but if its muddy they will load up very quickly and cause a loss of traction.

As for narrow, off-camber spots, there will be some more of those. Your 2nd gen being wider than a 1st gen is going to be vulnerable in those situations.

The first time I ran the Naches trail, I was pretty much stock except for tires. Had 31" bfg muds. The tires made it possible. Stock Tacomas have plenty a grond clearance if you take it slow. A lack of traction, either because of loose dirt or slippery, muddy conditions can cause the use of too much speed, getting you into trouble. Despite the name, rugged trails are not a very good off-road tire. Airing them down significantly will help in dry conditions but if its muddy they will load up very quickly and cause a loss of traction.

As for narrow, off-camber spots, there will be some more of those. Your 2nd gen being wider than a 1st gen is going to be vulnerable in those situations.

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Good insight, thanks. I may try running the trail on my dirt bike this weekend to check out conditions and get the jist of the trickier sections.